Everyone’s faces indicate they are pumped to be here as I glance one last time.
I walk towards the convenience store on the opposite side of the road, where there’s a gas station filled with cars and bikes that are constantly filling their tanks. The place is swarming with people considering it’s the first day.
The fresh smell of gasoline gives me shivers as I continue to stride.
The harsh rays of sunlight clash against my shades and cook my green hair as I free the hair tie from the center of my head and comb my fingers through my strands.
I’m supposed to meet Dad’s old pal, Milo, whom I’ve only seen in pictures that Dad brags about constantly.
As I halt next to the door, a gorgeous German Shepherd and a dark gray Staffordshire sit next to each other outside, gazing at me with starry eyes and wagging tails—I recognize them from a picture Dad took last year with them both.
They bow their big faces down, allowing me to pet them more and rub their bellies while I bend to my knees.
They both wear blissed-out smiley faces and I grin at them in contentment.
“Yes, you like belly rubs.”
I stick my tongue out and make a silly face at them before I stand back up and head in but my body clashes with a firm wall of muscles.
Ouch.
Shit!
He catches me between his strong arms, searing my already heated body with his warmth.
My eyes trail over his white t-shirt, black ripped jeans, and matching combat boots.
“Sorry,” I apologize, sniffing his subtle yet seductive earthy cologne that floods my nostrils and makes me feel lightheaded when he is this near.
“Careful.” The deep rumble of his voice registers and freezes me in place. It propels my thundering heartbeatsto jump out of my chest as they echo louder in my ears. “Someone’s in a hurry. What if that was a kid, would you run him over?”
Before I tilt my head to look up at him, he swiftly moves past me and all I catch are the edges of his neck-length, black hair that he covers under a burgundy ball cap.
“Don’t you think you’re exaggerating?” I reply, still assessing him.
“Am I?”
Okay, he’s a bit of an ass.
“Will you apologize too? You bumped straight into me as well,” I use my questioning voice and add a tad of sassiness.
He chuckles but does not turn back, not even an inch. “I think you’re supposed to give way to those who exit,” his hand subtly swings the helmet in his hand, “You got lucky, but green changes eventually.”
Did he just comment on my green hair?
“It’s still rude, biker boy,” I fix my necklace, latching onto the pendent, “A simple sorry wouldn’t hurt you.”
His fist tightens around the helmet, “As I said, be careful next time,” his tone is clipped before it turns playful, “By the way, I also like belly rubs.”
Oh, fuck you.I almost snap at him but stop myself and just flip him the bird as I turn away from him.
“I saw that!” He raises his voice when the loud exhausts fill the space around us as he strides away.
“Good!” I shout back.Powder your cheeks with it.
I shake my face sideways in a mocking way as my feetshuffle away from the doorway, stride inside, and halt by the wooden counter.
“Is anyone here?” I call out.
